Good Friday - Bad Idea

Southwell meeting heralds the end of what I term Summer meetings on the All Weather and a pleasing summer it has been. Unfortunately our sole selection on the card in which we involved ourselves in at 20-1 could only muster a late run to finish 2nd at SP 16-1.

We now head towards the All Weather proper and for the first time we are introducing Dundalk in to the mix which truly excites me and make me a busy boy in the months ahead!

I was rather startled to read reports regarding a plan to introduce racing on Good Friday. I would be interested in your view on this if you would be good enough to complete the poll (top left) The report read as follows.

No decision has yet been made by the British Horseracing Authority over the possibility of meetings being held on Good Friday.

A newspaper report suggested that proposals will be considered for two major meetings on the Bank Holiday afternoon, potentially with a £1million card proposed by Lingfield's owners Arena Racing Company (ARC) as the finale to the all-weather season, and another fixture at Musselburgh in Scotland.

Good Friday is one of the very few racing-free days in the calendar and jockeys traditionally stage their annual awards, The Lesters, the night before, while the racing training centres in Lambourn and Middleham host charity open days.

However, commercial pressures from betting opportunities and the fact that the majority of people have the day off and would be able to attend fixtures, are opposing factors under consideration.

BHA spokesman Robin Mounsey said: "No decision regarding racing on Good Friday has yet been taken by the BHA board, who meet next week, but then also at end of September.
"It is at this stage that it will be likely to provide final approval on the fixture list as a whole.

"Any decision to open up Good Friday for racing would involve consultation across the industry and an assessment of a wide range of factors, weighing up the benefits to the industry against any potential consequences."

Rupert Arnold, chief executive of the National Trainers Association, said: "The NTF position remains the same in that we continue to support the open days at Middleham and Lambourn and it's important to the success of them that there remains no racing on Good Friday.

"We have been involved in the discussions, particularly with ARC, and we are aware of their proposals."